Nearly three years after a fire damaged Taunton’s historic City Hall, city offices are still operating out of temporary locations, including the former Maxham School.

The Aug. 17, 2010, fire has been ruled arson but remains unsolved.

Smoke caused damage throughout the building, and water from firefighters’ efforts to extinguish the blaze damaged the front portion of the 160-year-old building.

The City Council has yet to select one of three proposed renovation designs. The options range in cost from $12 million to $23 million.

Progress

Over the next few months, Mayor Thomas Hoye Jr. said city officials need to have “serious discussions” on how to fund the City Hall project.

“We have to think outside the box,” he said. “We’re going to refinance some of our debt. We should have answer in the next few weeks over how much we can save. We have to decide how that process is going to move forward.”